Vinyl Siding vs Hardie Board – Which Option Should I Choose?

Hardie Board and vinyl siding are the two famous options when it comes to housing exteriors. After its introduction, vinyl siding became a great alternative to aluminum siding. Vinyl siding is usually made using PVC and has become a very popular choice in the United States. Here lies the basic difference – vinyl siding as mentioned above is made using PVC whereas the Hardie Board is a fiber-cement board that is usually made using a combination of cement, wood fibers, and sand. When it comes to the launch of vinyl siding vs. Hardie Board, vinyl siding was launched in the 1960s, whereas the Hardie Board was launched in the 1980s.

In this article, we are going to lay down some major differences between Hardie Board & vinyl siding ( vinyl siding vs.. Hardie Board).

Vinyl siding vs. Hardie Board| The Major Differences Between The Both

If you are looking for the right housing exteriors and have come to a fix between vinyl siding and Hardie Board, these points will help ease the decision. There are many factors that you need to look at before deciding on the housing exteriors. These factors include – durability, maintenance, energy efficiency, aesthetics, and eco-friendliness. Let’s compare both on each of these factors.

Durability
Between vinyl siding and Hardie Board, Hardie Board takes a point in durability. This does not mean that vinyl siding is not durable. But as Hardie Board is much denser and is thicker than the vinyl siding, it tends to last a bit longer. Where vinyl siding comes with a 25-years of warranty, there the Hardie Board comes with 30-50 years of warranty. The difference, as you might see, is quite prominent. Apart from the fact that the Hardie Board is dense and thick, it is also made of cement-like materials, which makes it stronger than vinyl that is made using plastic. Hence, when it comes to choosing between vinyl siding vs. Hardie Board on the basis of durability, the Hardie Board is a good choice.

Maintenance
Another important factor that one needs to consider while choosing between vinyl siding and Hardie Board is maintenance. Unlike wood exteriors which need regular painting and care, both the Hardie Board and vinyl siding do not need much maintenance. But if we have to compare them both, vinyl siding wins over the Hardie Board here. Unlike traditional Hardie Board that would need painting and re-caulking every decade or so, unless you choose to use James Hardie ColorPlus. The ColorPlus baked-on technology is intended to withstand the UV rays of the sun. As a result, over time you get less fading and enjoy a much longer vibrant color than you do with traditional painted hardie board. Vinyl siding, on the other hand, is less expensive and requires very little maintenance.

Aesthetics
Another factor that one should weigh in on while choosing the right siding for a home is its aesthetics – the thickness, weight, and appeal. Between Hardie Board and vinyl siding, the Hardie Board is very thick and looks more similar to real wood whereas vinyl siding is not that appealing if you are looking to curate a wooden look. So, in terms of appearance and thickness, again Hardie Board wins the race.

Costing
Costing is one of the most crucial parts that one needs to consider while discussing housing exterior. When it comes to cost for vinyl siding vs. Hardie Board, vinyl siding is less expensive on both the fronts – material costs and installation cost.

Which one to choose?

We have listed the major differences between the two – vinyl siding vs. Hardie Board. There are major differences between the two, however the one you choose completely depends on the factors that matter the most to you.